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Why Steve Goodman Was One of Country’s Most Underrated Songwriters

Bobbie Jean Sawyer

The man who wrote “the perfect country and western song” was not a member of the Grand Ole Opry or the Country Music Hall of Fame. But anyone who’s listened to David Allan Coe’s 1975 hit“You Never Even Called Me By My Name”has heard the name Steve Goodman.

Coe humorously mentions Goodman as the song’s writer, right before introducing the infamous final verse.

“Well, a friend of mine named Steve Goodman wrote that song and he told me it was the perfect country and western song/I wrote him back a letter and I told him it was not the perfect country and western song because he hadn’t saidanything at all about mama, or trains, or trucks, or prison or gettin’ drunk/Well, he sat down and wrote another verse to the song and he sent it to me and after reading it I realized that my friend had written the perfect country & western song and I felt obliged to include it on this album”

Goodman wrote the song withJohn Prine, who had befriended Goodman at Chicago’s legendary folk club Earl of Old Town in the late 1960s.

Prine and Goodman’s version of the song includes a different, but equally hilarious final verse.

The song was a satirical send-up of the country music industry. But that didn’t stop it from reaching the top 10 on the country charts. Prine refused to take a writing credit for the song so Goodman gifted him a jukebox in return for helping write it.

But Steve Goodman’s contribution to country music stretches beyond “You Never Even Called Me By My Name.”

Born in Chicago in 1948, Goodman started singing and writing songs as a teenager. After graduating, he stayed for a month in New York’s Greenwich Village, where he performed regularly at Cafe Wha?, a popular club where several musicians and comedians got their start. Goodman was already earning a following for his music when he was diagnosed with leukemia. Knowing he may not have much time left, Goodman put all his energy into songwriting and performing.

He quickly became friends with fellow folk and country singers like Prine, Kris Kristofferson and Arlo Guthrie. Goodmanbrought Kris Kristoffersonto see John Prine perform in Chicago, which helped boost Prine’s career.

Goodman’s songs were introspective, funny and heartbreaking — sometimes all at once. He opened for comedian Steve Martin when Martin was at the height of his stand-up career. And he was so revered by his fellow songwriters that Bob Dylan sang backup onGoodman’s third album.

Goodman’s most famous work is the stunning “City of New Orleans,” which he wrote while traveling by train with his wife. Recorded by folk legends like Arlo Guthrie and Judy Collins, the song has become an American standard. Of course, for many country fans, the definitive recording of “City of New Orleans” is Willie Nelson’s 1984 recording for his album of the same name. Nelson’s recording of the song won a Grammy in 1985.

A lifelong Cubs fan, Goodman wrote songs for his beloved underdog team. “A Dying Cub Fans Last Request” is Goodman’s a heartfelt and tongue-in-cheek final goodbye to the Cubs.

The video below shows Goodman performing the song from the rooftop of Wrigley Field.

Goodman also penned “Go Cubs Go,” which is still sang at every Cubs’ game.

Goodman died at the age of 36, eleven days before he was scheduled to sing the National Anthem at the Cubs’ first post-season game since the 1945 World Series.